Anker Smart Display USB Power Adapters 160 100 and 70W

Summary

The video reviews three Anker USB-C chargers—70W, 100W, and the Prime 160W—focusing on efficiency, idle power use, thermal behavior, and real-world performance. The 70W model stands out for its compact size, strong efficiency, and reliable output, while the 100W charger performs adequately but offers no major improvements over older models. The 160W Prime charger impresses with size and features but suffers from high idle power and thermal shutdown under sustained high load. Across comparisons, none break new ground, but the 70W option emerges as the most balanced and dependable choice.

Takeaways

• 😀 The 70W charger is compact and efficient, making it the best value option among the three Anker chargers reviewed.
• 😀 The 100W charger features a display that provides real-time power and temperature stats, but its idle power consumption is higher than the 70W model.
• 😀 The 160W charger is marketed as capable of delivering 160W, but in practice, it overheats after about 24 minutes of peak performance.
• 😀 Efficiency is a key strength across the chargers, with the 70W and 160W models reaching around 93% efficiency, while the 100W charger is slightly less efficient at 92%.
• 😀 The 160W charger suffers from high idle power consumption, which could make it impractical for continuous use, despite its high power output.
• 😀 All three chargers offer programmable power supply (PPS) and USB PD modes, but none support 12V output mode, which limits compatibility with some devices.
• 😀 Anker's marketing claims for the 160W charger are misleading, as it only delivers peak 160W for short durations before overheating.
• 😀 The 70W charger performs well in terms of power sharing and idle power consumption, making it a good fit for those looking for a low-energy solution.
• 😀 While the 100W charger has good features like an accurate display and a temperature bar, its higher idle power consumption and poor long-term efficiency make it less appealing.
• 😀 Overall, the 70W charger is the best performer for its size and cost, offering great efficiency and low idle power consumption, even if it lacks some of the features of higher-wattage models.

Q & A

What are the key features of the 70W Anker charger?

The 70W Anker charger is compact, efficient, and comes with a safety listing. It features low idle power consumption and supports multiple power modes, including PPS. It also comes with a USB-C cable capable of 240W, although the cable itself only supports USB 2.0 speeds.

How does the 100W Anker charger compare to the 70W model?

The 100W Anker charger is larger and has a unique button and screen for displaying relevant information, such as wattage and temperature. It shows higher idle power consumption compared to the 70W model, but its efficiency is still good. It also supports PPS mode and standard USB PD modes but lacks a 12V mode.

What is the major issue with the 160W Anker charger?

The 160W Anker charger, while compact and powerful, has high idle power consumption and struggles to maintain efficiency at low loads. It only provides 160W for a brief period before overheating and shutting off, making it less reliable for extended use. The charger is marketed as capable of 160W, but it doesn't sustain that output for long.

What’s the performance of the 160W charger like during idle power testing?

The 160W charger has poor idle power performance, as it doesn't drop into a low power state. Despite trying various configurations, the idle power remained high, which was a significant drawback compared to other chargers. The charger fails to meet ideal idle power consumption standards.

How does the efficiency of these chargers compare at different voltage levels?

All three chargers show excellent efficiency at 120V AC, with the 70W charger achieving up to 93% efficiency. However, at 230V AC, the efficiency slightly decreases for the 70W and 100W models. The 160W charger shows an improvement in efficiency at 230V, reaching up to 94%, but still struggles with idle power.

What are the pros and cons of the 70W charger?

The 70W charger is praised for its small size, efficiency, and lightweight design. It is also a great value option, performing well under normal conditions. However, it’s still slightly overpriced compared to some other similar chargers unless purchased on sale.

What features make the 100W charger stand out?

The 100W charger has a display screen showing accurate real-time information, including temperature and wattage. The ability to toggle between different modes, such as PPS and port priority, is useful, but its high idle power consumption is a downside. It also lacks a 12V mode, limiting its compatibility.

Why is the 160W charger’s marketing misleading?

The marketing of the 160W charger suggests it can provide a constant 160W of power, but in reality, it only delivers this for a short duration before overheating. The charger is better suited for short bursts of high power but fails to sustain it over long periods, undermining its advertised performance.

How do the 160W, 100W, and 70W chargers perform in thermal testing?

In thermal testing, the 160W charger performs well initially but has issues with overheating after brief usage at peak power. The 70W and 100W chargers perform better thermally, with the 100W showing some hot spots, especially under load, but still providing good performance in a controlled environment.

Which charger is the best value for money?

The 100W charger offers the best value for money, as it balances performance, features, and price. While the 160W charger is more expensive and suffers from reliability issues, the 70W charger is competitively priced but still feels a bit expensive for its class unless on sale.